How to Play "Banana Boat" on a Guitar

With your own twist, "Banana Boat" could be a good tune to break-out at a party.

The "Banana Boat Song" was released as a single by Harry Belafonte in 1956 (and re-popularized in the 1980s in the movie "Beetlejuice"), but has roots in Jamaican folk culture. This tune is largely vocal-driven; the music behind the famed lyrics is various percussive instruments accompanied by bass. Anything can be adapted for guitar if you are willing to get creative. The song uses only two major chords, so it is easy to get started.

Instructions

1. Tune your guitar to standard tuning: low-E, A, D, G, B, high-E. The bass line of the song is F, C, E. In a four-beat measure, F is played on the first beat, C on the third and E on the fourth. This can be played with your thumb while strumming with your first and second fingers.

2. The major chords used in the song are F and C. Play those two simple chords back and forth to the tempo of "(F) Come mister tally man, (C) tally me banana --- (F) Daylight come, mon, me (C) wan' go (F) home." The first C-chord can be eliminated for simplicity, if desired.

3. 

   Hand out some percussion to the rest of your party.

   Now put the bass and rhythm together by playing the chords back-and-forth, adding a low-E bass note and hammering-on to F as you switch back to that chord. Add a percussive element to the song by palm-muting the chord on that empty second beat.

Tips & Warnings

• Some musicians play this song using the chords D and A. Some might slide up to F# and C# --- it depends what key you are comfortable singing.

• Considering this is a folk song with humble origins, an acoustic or classical guitar is appropriate for a traditional adaptation.

• Once you start playing it, this song it will be stuck in your head for days.

Resources

• Belafonte-ASiteOfSites.com